Front-mounted-central blower discharge unit with multidirectional nozzle

ABSTRACT

A blower is provided for removing debris from the ground where an air stream generator connect to a frame discharges a high velocity air stream downward and away from the blower, toward the working surface, through a nozzle rotatable three hundred sixty degrees continuously. The air stream has a generator axis substantially perpendicular to a frame center line, and is operably connected to a power source mounted to the frame. An actuator mechanically rotates the nozzle. The blower is connectable to a vehicle at the rear of the frame and has wheels at the front of the frame for movement across the ground.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority in U.S. Provisional Application No.61/470,221, filed Mar. 31, 2011, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosed subject matter relates generally to debrisblowers, and in particular to high velocity debris blowers mounted tovehicles for clearing debris from the ground.

Blower devices that create a high velocity air stream are used to cleardebris from a working surface, such as the ground. An air stream is usedto move the debris from the working surface, or in a particulardirection toward an area for collection or removal. In applicationsrequiring moving large debris items such as leaves, sticks, dirt plugs,or gravel, or removal of debris over a large area, a blower that isself-propelled or attached to a vehicle is used. Such blowers may usenozzles that are adjustable by an operator to direct the air stream.

The angle at which the air stream comes in contact with the ground anddebris affects how efficiently the air stream moves the debris in aparticular direction. Many high-powered blowers that are self-propelledor attached to a vehicle only allow the redirection of the air stream ina vertical plane. As such, the angle the air stream strikes the groundcan be very steep thereby causing the air stream to scatter as itstrikes the ground. Scattering of the air stream dissipates the energycreated by the moving air and can scatter the debris to be cleared.However, many high-powered blowers are not capable of generating a highvelocity air stream through an adjustable nozzle, discharging the airstream along the surface of the ground at a shallow angle, or allowingan operator to control, with precision, the direction the debris aremoved.

SUMMARY

The presently disclosed subject matter provides a blower having a powersource, connected to an air stream generator for generating an airstream, mounted to a frame. The frame has a front and rear defining aframe centerline. The air stream generator includes a generator axissubstantially perpendicular to the frame centerline, and a nozzleoperable to direct the air stream from a substantially downwarddirection to a substantially horizontal direction below the frame. Theblower includes wheels mounted to the front of the frame, and isconnectable at the back of the frame to a vehicle. The nozzle isrotatably mounted to the air stream generator providing continuousrotation of three hundred sixty degrees. An actuator may be provided andconnected to the nozzle for mechanically rotating the nozzle while theblower is operating.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and includeexemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter and illustratevarious objects and features thereof.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the blower discharge unit attached to avehicle, which is partially shown.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the blower assembly and nozzle assemblyembodying principles of the disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the blower assembly and nozzleassembly.

FIG. 4 is a left elevation view of the blower assembly and nozzleassembly.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the blower assembly and nozzleassembly.

FIG. 6 is a right elevation view of the blower assembly and nozzleassembly.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view from below of the nozzle assembly.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross section view of the nozzle assembly takengenerally along line 8-8 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 8A is an enlarged, fragmentary cross section view of the nozzleassembly taken generally within circle 8A in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the brackets connecting the blowerdischarge unit and vehicle.

FIG. 9A is an enlarged view of the brackets taken generally withincircle 9A in FIG. 9.

FIG. 10 is an alternative embodiment mechanical contact interface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Detailed aspects of the disclosed subject matter are disclosed herein;however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merelyexemplary of the disclosed subject matter, which may be embodied invarious forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional detailsdisclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as abasis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching oneskilled in the art how to variously employ the disclosed technology invirtually any appropriately detailed structure.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description forconvenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up,down, front, back, right, and left refer to the invention as orientatedin the view being referred to. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly”refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometriccenter of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof.Forwardly and rearwardly are generally in reference to the direction oftravel, if appropriate. Said terminology will include the wordsspecifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similarmeaning.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a blower discharge unit 101embodying principles of the disclosed subject matter mounted to thefront of a drive vehicle 190, partially shown. The vehicle 190 mayinclude a zero-turn radius mower or tractor. The blower discharge unit101 is shown connected to a mower deck, and the mower deck is usuallyconnected to a vehicle 190, as shown in FIG. 9. In use, a power blowerassembly 102 creates a high velocity air stream that exits from belowthe discharge unit 101 through a nozzle assembly 130 close to theworking surface, such as the ground. The nozzle assembly 130 has anozzle 132 that is capable of rotating three hundred sixty degrees(360°), in order to change the direction of the air stream. The airstream is created by an impeller (not shown) within air stream generator118, operably connected to a power source 120. A throttle control 108operably connected to the power source 120 is attached to an arm 109extending from behind the blower discharge unit 101. The throttlecontrol 108 is shown in a first position (FIGS. 1 and 9) extendingbehind the rear of the air stream generator 118 enabling an operator tocontrol the speed of the power source 120, and thus the velocity of theair exiting the nozzle 132. Rotation of the nozzle 132 is controlled byan actuator 170 (FIGS. 4-6) operably connected to the nozzle 132enabling continuous three hundred sixty degree (360°) rotation of thenozzle 132 when the blower discharge unit 101 is in use. The actuator170 is operated by a switch (not shown) used by an operator. When inuse, the blower discharge unit 101 is supported at the front by wheels110 which may include caster wheels, and is supported at the rear of theframe 104 by the vehicle 190. The blower discharge unit 101 is shown inFIGS. 1 and 9 mounted to a vehicle 190 by a mount 192. A stand 112 ispivotally mounted to the rear of the frame 104 at a bracket 113 forsupporting the rear of the blower discharge unit 101 when it is notattached to a vehicle 190. The stand 112 is shown in FIG. 1 in a firstposition rotated beneath the blower discharge unit 101. The stand 112may be rotated into a second position beneath the blower discharge unit101 when in use.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, the blower discharge unit 101 is shown withthe stand 112 rotated into the first position and engaging the groundfor supporting the rear of the blower discharge unit 101. The stand 112may be rotated from the second position into the first position when anoperator is disconnecting the discharge unit 101 from a vehicle 190, orwhen storing the device when it is not in use. In FIGS. 2-6, thethrottle control 108 is shown pivoted forward into a second position forstorage. The arm 109 is pivotally connected to the rear of the frameassembly 103 by a bracket 122. A pin 123 is inserted into apertures inthe bracket 122 to limit the forward and rearward travel of the arm 109.

The power blower assembly 102 generally comprises a frame assembly 103mounting an air stream generator 118. The frame assembly 103 includes aframe 104 having a front end 105 disposed between opposite front corners106, and an opposite back end 107. The frame 104 has a centerline 128extending between the front end 105 and back end 107 that bisects thefront end 105 and back end 107. The frame assembly 103 further includesa deck 114 mounted to the frame 104 that supports the power source 120of the air stream generator 118. The power source 120 may include agasoline powered engine, an electric motor, or a hydraulic motor. Thepower source 120 is operably connected to the impeller of the air streamgenerator 118. The air stream generator 118 is orientated whereby theimpeller's rotational axis is perpendicular to the centerline 128,allowing the impeller to draw in air from the side of the blowerdischarge unit 101, and to enable the air stream to exit the blowerdischarge unit 101 through a downwardly-orientated discharge port 126.The discharge port 126 is located between the sides of the frame 104adjacent the centerline 128 (FIGS. 1-2), thereby focusing the highvelocity air stream close to the ground from beneath the frame 104.Moreover, configuring the blower assembly 102 to draw air from the sideof the blower discharge unit 101, and positioning the discharge port 126adjacent the center line 128 provides better balance of the blowerdischarge unit 101 during use and allows the operator to have a betterview of the nozzle 132 and the ground during use.

Referring to FIGS. 1-7, the nozzle assembly 130 comprises a nozzle 132connected to a nozzle mount 152. The nozzle 132 may be manufactured froma resilient material including plastic, metal, or rubber. In general,the nozzle 132 is a curved tube that redirects the high velocity airstream from a vertical path as it exits the air stream generator 118 toa generally lateral path downward and away from the blower dischargeunit 101. Altering the path of the air stream in only one direction,from a vertical path to a substantially horizontal path, minimizes thedissipation of the energy generated by the air stream thereby maximizingthe energy created by the air stream to move debris. The body 134 of thenozzle 132 has a proximal inlet end 140 that is connected to the nozzlemount 152, and a distal outlet end 150 open to the atmosphere. The body134 has a substantially vertical upper portion 141 extending between theproximal inlet end 140 and an elbow 135, and has a substantiallyhorizontal lower portion 143 extending between the elbow 135 and thedistal outlet end 150, wherein the distal outlet end 150 is open to theatmosphere. The air stream exits the nozzle 132 and strikes the workingsurface at a shallow angle thereby maximizing the energy of the airstream to loosen debris from the working surface and propel the debris agreat distance away from the blower discharge unit 101. One or more ribs136 extend the length of the body 134 between the proximal end 140 andthe distal end 150, and provide support for the body 134 wall to resistdeformation of the nozzle 132 caused by the high velocity air streammoving therethrough. In one embodiment, the nozzle 132 is capable ofbeing deformed, for example, when coming into contact with an immovableobject on the ground, and returning to its original shape therebyminimizing impact damage to the nozzle 132 and the nozzle mount 152.

A directional indicator 138 extends from the back of the nozzle 132allowing the operator to determine the direction of the airflow from thenozzle 132 when operating the blower discharge unit 101 from the vehicle190. The directional indicator 138 extends from a first end connected tothe nozzle 132, and a second end disposed outside the nozzle 132. Asleeve 146 mounted to the second end may be brightly colored. The firstend is mounted to the nozzle 132 by a mount 133. The mount 133 is anenlarged or reinforced portion of the nozzle 132 body 134. A fastener,including a nut 147 and washer 148 combination, secures the directionalindicator 138 to the nozzle 132.

Referring to FIGS. 7-8A, the proximal inlet end 140 of the nozzle 132has an integrally formed flange 142 for connecting the nozzle 132 to thenozzle mount 152. Distal from the flange 142 is a mechanical contactinterface 144. The mechanical contact interface 144 allows forconnection of an actuator 170 for rotating the nozzle 132 about thedischarge port 126. In an embodiment, the belt 178 circumscribes theupper portion 141 and is operably connected to the actuator 170. Inanother embodiment, the mechanical contact interface 144 has anintegrally-molded raised surface area, such as gear-shaped teeth, forengaging a toothed-gear or worm gear that is operably connected to theactuator 170.

The nozzle 132 attaches to the discharge port 126 of the housing 124 bya nozzle mount 152, using fasteners that may include a nut and boltcombination. The nozzle mount 152 permits secure attachment of thenozzle 132 to the air stream generator 118, three hundred sixty degree(360°) continuous rotation of the nozzle 132 about the discharge port126, and passage of the high velocity air stream therethrough. Referringto FIG. 8A, the nozzle mount 152 comprises a first ring 154 with acircular race 156 that rotatably interfaces with a second ring 158having a circular race 160. The races 156 and 160 align and contain aplurality of balls 157 permitting circular rotation of the first ring154 about the second ring 158. Although only one race is shown, inalternative embodiments additional races are formed in the rings 154 and158. Each of the first ring 154 and second ring 158 have an inward andan outward portion. The nozzle 132 flange 142 is secured to the top ofthe inward portion of the first ring 154 by a reinforcing ring 166 andsuitable fasteners including rivets, bolts, or adhesive. A tubularsleeve 168, connected to the inward end of the reinforcing ring 166,extends into the interior of the nozzle 132 from the inlet end 140toward the elbow 135 for providing support and reinforcement to theupper portion 141 of the nozzle 132. The reinforcing ring 166 and sleeve168 can be formed from the same, structurally continuous piece ofmaterial or separately fabricated and connected. The outward portion ofthe second ring 158 is secured to a ring bracket 162 by suitablefasteners including a nut and bolt combination 163. The bracket 162 hasa thicker outward portion and a thinner inward portion defining a notch164. The top face of the bracket 162 is connected to the bottom of theair stream generator 118. The notch 164 in the inward bottom surface ofthe bracket 162 permits passage of the outward portion of the first ring154 and any protruding fasteners, and allows the first ring 154 to biasand rotate against the inward portion of the bracket 162 in situationswhere the force of the high velocity air stream pushes down on thenozzle 132, and in turn down on the inward portion of the first ring154.

In an alternative embodiment, the nozzle 132 does not include a flange142, and the inward portion of the first ring 154 is connected to thetubular sleeve 168 whereby the upper portion 141 of the nozzle 132 isattached to the sleeve 168 using fasteners that may include a nut andbolt combination.

The actuator 170 is connected to the housing 124 by a support 172. Theactuator 170 is adjacent to the nozzle 132 and orientated wherebyengagement of the actuator 170 causes rotation of the nozzle 132 aboutthe discharge port 126. The actuator 170 may include an electric motor,a hand-operated crank, or a hydraulic motor. The actuator 170 isoperably connected to a switch and a suitable power supply including theelectrical power system or hydraulic power system of the blowerdischarge unit 101 or the vehicle 190. The switch may be configured tobe foot operated having a mechanism that is moved in a first directionto rotate the nozzle 132 in a first direction, and is moved in a seconddirection to rotate the nozzle 132 in a second direction. Such a switchmay include, but is not limited to a pedal mechanism. The switch may bereleasably secured to the vehicle 190 by a fastener including a magnet,providing for repositioning of the switch on the vehicle 190, or forattaching the switch to the blower assembly 102 during storage. In anembodiment, the actuator 170 is an electric motor with a drive pulley176 mounted on a shaft. The pulley 176 is located adjacent themechanical contact interface 144 of the nozzle 132. A belt 178 isattached to the mechanical contact interface 144 and the pulley 176(FIG. 7). Engagement of the actuator 170 causes the pulley 176 torotate, in turn rotating the nozzle 132 three hundred sixty degrees(360°) about the discharge port 126. Alternatively, the actuator 170 mayuse a toothed-gear instead of a pulley 176, and the toothed-gear engagesthe mechanical contact interface 144, or gear-shaped teeth located atthe mechanical contact interface 144.

An attachment assembly 115 (FIGS. 9-9A) on the back end 107 of the frame104 has brackets 116 that are used to connect the blower discharge unit101 to the vehicle 190. A mount 192 on the front of the vehicle 190 hasbrackets 194 for receiving the brackets 116 on the blower discharge unit101. A removable pin 196 passing through apertures in the brackets 116and 194 allows the blower discharge unit 101 to be connected anddisconnected from the vehicle 190.

Referring to FIG. 10, in an alternative embodiment, the mechanicalcontact interface 144 is a channel, bound by a first ring including aquoit-shaped annulet 180, and a second ring including quoit-shapedannulet 182, for receiving the belt 178.

In use, the blower discharge unit 101 is connected to a vehicle 190, andthe power source 120 is energized. The high velocity air streamgenerated by the air stream generator 118 exits the nozzle 132. Thenozzle 132 rotates either clockwise, or counter-clockwise by engagementof the actuator 170 to change the direction of the high velocity airstream. The central location of the nozzle 132 within the frame 104allows the nozzle 132 to be the same distance from debris on either sideof the blower discharge unit 101.

It will be appreciated that the components of the blower discharge unit101 and 201 can be used for various other applications. Moreover, theblower discharge unit 101 and 201 can be fabricated in various sizes andfrom a wide range of suitable materials, using various manufacturing andfabrication techniques.

Although the invention has been disclosed with reference to variousparticular embodiments, it is understood that equivalents may beemployed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scopeof the invention as recited in the claims.

1. A blower assembly for use with a vehicle on a surface, the blowerassembly comprising: a frame having a front end and a back end; a wheelmounted at the front end; a bracket mounted at the back end for mountingthe blower assembly to the front of the vehicle; an air stream generatorhaving a housing with a downwardly orientated discharge port, thehousing enclosing a fan; a power source operably connected to the fanfor providing a high velocity air stream; and a nozzle connected to thedischarge port below the frame, the nozzle rotatable three hundred sixtydegrees.
 2. The blower assembly of claim 1, wherein: the nozzle furthercomprises: a body extending between an inlet end and an outlet end; theinlet end including an upper portion having a mechanical contactinterface, the upper portion connected to the discharge port; and theoutlet end orientated generally perpendicular to the body inlet endwhereby the air stream exiting the outlet end strikes the surface at ashallow angle.
 3. The blower assembly of claim 2, further comprising anactuator operably connected to the mechanical contact interface forrotating the nozzle.
 4. The blower assembly of claim 3, furtherincluding a belt operably connecting the mechanical contact interfaceand the actuator.
 5. The blower assembly of claim 4, wherein themechanical contact interface includes a channel bound by a first ringand a second ring.
 6. The blower assembly of claim 1, furthercomprising: a nozzle mount connecting the nozzle to the discharge portpermitting side-to-side rotation of the nozzle, the nozzle mountcomprising: a bracket connected to the blower unit; a first ringrotatably connected to a second ring; the first ring connected to thenozzle; and the second ring connected to the bracket.
 7. The blowerassembly of claim 6, wherein the nozzle further comprises a flangeconnected to the first ring.
 8. The blower assembly of claim 7, whereinthe nozzle mount includes a reinforcing ring securing the flange to thefirst ring.
 9. The blower assembly of claim 8, wherein the reinforcingring includes a sleeve extending from an inward portion of the firstring into the nozzle.
 10. The blower assembly of claim 6, wherein thebracket includes a notch at an inward portion for passing an outwardportion of the first ring.
 11. The blower assembly of claim 6, wherein:the first ring further comprises a sleeve extending from an inwardportion of the first ring into the nozzle; and the nozzle is connectedto the sleeve.
 12. The blower assembly of claim 1, further comprising anactuator operably connected to the nozzle for rotating the nozzle. 13.The blower assembly of claim 1, wherein the nozzle is manufactured froma resilient material that is deformable upon impact and returns to itsoriginal shape.
 14. A blower assembly for use with a vehicle on asurface, the blower assembly comprising: a frame having a front end anda back end; a wheel mounted at the front end; a bracket mounted at theback end for mounting the blower assembly to the front of the vehicle;an air stream generator having a housing with a downwardly orientateddischarge port, the housing enclosing a fan; a power source operablyconnected to the fan for providing a high velocity air stream; a nozzlemount comprising: a bracket connected to the discharge port; a firstring rotatably connected to a second ring; and the second ring connectedto the bracket; a nozzle comprising: a tubular body extending between aninlet end and an outlet end; a mechanical contact interfacecircumscribing the inlet end; the inlet end connected to the first ringpermitting three hundred and sixty degree rotation of the nozzle; andthe outlet end orientated generally perpendicular to the body inlet endwhereby the air stream exiting the outlet end strikes the surface at ashallow angle.
 15. The blower assembly of claim 14, wherein the nozzlefurther comprises a flange connected to the first ring.
 16. The blowerassembly of claim 15, wherein the nozzle mount includes a reinforcingring securing the flange to the first ring.
 17. The blower assembly ofclaim 16, wherein the reinforcing ring includes a sleeve extending froman inward portion of the first ring into the nozzle.
 18. The blowerassembly of claim 14, wherein: the first ring further comprises a sleeveextending from an inward portion of the first ring into the nozzle; andthe nozzle is connected to the sleeve.
 19. The blower assembly of claim14, further comprising an actuator operably connected to the nozzle forrotating the nozzle.